What do you do with a toaster that won’t toast, a fritzy computer or a wonky bike? All too often, it lies in a shed or gets taken to the dump, when a simple repair could keep it going for years. Communities in Belfast will soon have a new solution – bring them to a Repair Cafe. These are volunteer-run, pop-up community events which will take place around the city, where skilled volunteers help people fix their stuff for free. It brings people together, keeps waste out of landfill, keeps traditional skills alive and encourages re-use and repair. There are more than 1,000 regular repair cafes around the world (many held in church halls and buildings) but none have been held in Northern Ireland…until now.
Members of Eco-Congregations are invited to join in by volunteering their fixing expertise, helping get the word out to their parishes and communities, or helping with the smooth running of events. A pilot cafe will take place on 9 December from 10.30 to 2pm at Belfast’s Farset Labs and all are welcome with their broken stuff, or just to find out more and enjoy a cuppa and some home-made cake.
If you or your congregation would like to find out more or get involved, contact [email protected], view the website at www.repaircafebelfast.wordpress.com or follow the Belfast Repair Cafe on social media: www.facebook.com/repaircafebelfast or www.twitter.com/repaircafebfast.
Photo above: Farnham Repair Cafe in England gets into the festive mood. Belfast will soon have its own repair cafe helping people get their stuff fixed and cutting waste.